Water guns

ABSTRACT

A water gun may comprise a body having a front surface, a nozzle mounted on and extending from the body, an actuator, at least one fluid reservoir, and a pump. The nozzle may have at least a nozzle portion adapted to move between an extended position spaced away from the front surface and a retracted position closer to the front surface than the extended position. The actuator may be adapted to be moved relative to the body, and mechanically coupled to the nozzle for moving the nozzle between the retracted and extended positions when the actuator is moved between first and second positions. The fluid reservoir may comprise first and second end portions and a generally uniform elongate intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions, which may have volumes that are larger than the volume of the intermediate portion. The pump may be fluidly coupled to the at least one reservoir and the nozzle, with the pump being operable to discharge fluid received from the at least one reservoir through the a nozzle.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/687,358, filed Jun. 3, 2005 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/670,778, filed Apr. 12, 2005. Thisapplication claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to European CommunityDesign Registrations No. 000379961-0009, 000379961-0010, 000379961-0011,000379961-0012, 000379961-0013, and 000379961-0014, entitled “Toy SquirtGuns,” filed with the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market onAug. 1, 2005. The complete disclosure of each of the above-identifiedpatent applications and design registrations are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to water guns and, moreparticularly, to water guns having an extendable nozzle and/or a fluidreservoir having an enlarged end, such as a dumbbell shaped fluidreservoir adapted for use as an operating handle.

Examples of water guns adapted to eject either individual spurts orcontinuous streams of water, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,038,483,3,578,789, 3,828,478, 4,040,622, 4,214,674, 5,029,732, 5,042,819,5,102,052, 5,377,656, 5,332,120, 5,598,950, 5,611,460, 5,605,253,5,823,849, and 5,865,438. Examples of a toy using a bellows component toproduce bubbles are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,042,819 and D331,609.Examples of water guns with shields are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,038,483, 4,040,622, 5,435,569, 5,611,460, and 5,865,438 as well as inU.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 29/180,808 and 10/836,647. Examples ofguns with shields are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 295,013, 391,397,1,244,679, 1,279,930, 1,290,606, 2,306,708, 3,828,478, 4,358,984,4,815,822, 5,288,231, 5,611,460, 5,823,849, and 5,865,438. Examples ofguns with extendable shields are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 295,013,1,244,679, 1,279,930, 2,306,708, and 4,358,984. Examples of water gunshaving one-way ball valves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,578,789,4,214,674, 5,029,732, 5,042,819, and 5,598,950, and U.K. PatentApplication No. GB2145340A. The disclosures of these and all otherpublications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in theirentirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one example, a water gun may comprise a body having a front surface,a nozzle mounted on and extending from the body, and an actuator. Thenozzle may have at least a nozzle portion adapted to move between anextended position spaced away from the front surface and a retractedposition closer to the front surface than the extended position. Theactuator may be adapted to be moved relative to the body, andmechanically coupled to the nozzle for moving the nozzle between theretracted and extended positions when the actuator is moved betweenfirst and second positions.

In one example, a water gun may comprise at least one fluid reservoir, anozzle, and a pump. The fluid reservoir may comprise first and secondend portions and a generally uniform elongate intermediate portionextending between the first and second end portions. The first andsecond end portions may have volumes that are larger than the volume ofthe intermediate portion. The pump may be fluidly coupled to the atleast one reservoir and the nozzle, with the pump being operable todischarge fluid received from the at least one reservoir through thenozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top-front perspective view of an embodiment of a water gunshown with a nozzle in a retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a top-front perspective view of the water gun of FIG. 1 shownwith the nozzle in an extended position.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the water gun taken generally along line 3-3in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the water gun taken generally along line 4-4in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway lower-rear perspective view of the watergun of FIG. 1, with the fluid flow paths schematically illustrated witharrows.

FIG. 6 is a partial section view of a pump valve assembly takengenerally along line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating various componentsof a water gun similar to the water gun of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top-front perspective view of another embodiment of a watergun shown with a nozzle in a retracted position.

FIG. 9 is a top-front perspective view of the water gun of FIG. 8 shownwith the nozzle in an extended position.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the water gun of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative example of a water gun is shown generally at 12 in FIGS.1-6. As shown in FIG. 1, water gun 12 may generally include a fluidsource, such as one or more fluid reservoirs 14, a nozzle 16, anactuator 18, and a pump 20.

As depicted in FIG. 1, water gun 12 may be configured as abellows-action water gun, although other suitable configurations mayalso be used. As more fully described below, a bellows-action water gunmay, by alternate expansion and contraction, draw a suitable fluid, suchas water or the like, from at least one fluid reservoir 14 and expel thefluid through a nozzle or other suitable opening.

One or more of the fluid reservoirs 14 may include multiple fluidlyconnected portions arranged along a longitudinal axis 22. For example,fluid reservoir 14 may include an upper or first end portion 24 and alower or second end portion 26, which end portions are separated by anintermediate portion 28. The first and second end portions 24,26 and theintermediate portion 28 may be fluidly connected to collectively definea fluid containing body.

The fluid reservoir 14 may be fabricated from any suitable material suchas a plastic or metal. At least one of fluid reservoirs 14 may includeone or more transparent or translucent regions, which may be configuredto allow a visual determination of the remaining level of fluid withinfluid reservoir 14.

Each fluid reservoir 14 may include a filler opening 30 and an outlet32. The filler opening 30 may be provided with a removable cap 34.Removable cap 34 may include one or more vents, which may be configuredto relieve the pressure within fluid reservoir 14, such as to preventformation of a vacuum within fluid reservoir 14. Removable cap 34 mayattach to fluid reservoir 14 using a threaded or snap-on typeconnection. Removable cap 34 may be provided with a retainer 36 to keepthe cap 34 attached to fluid reservoir 14, such as when a user isfilling fluid reservoir 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, fluid reservoir 14 may resemble a dumbbell shape.When fluid reservoir 14 resembles a dumbbell shape, each of the firstand second end portions 24, 26 may enclose a volume that is larger thanthe volume enclosed by the intermediate portion 28. In particular, atleast one cross-sectional dimension, such as a diameter, of at least oneof the first and second end portions 24, 26 may be larger than across-sectional dimension of the intermediate portion 28. As shown inFIG. 1, the first and second end portions 24, 26 may be larger than theintermediate portion 28 in each radial direction from longitudinal axis22 extending through the intermediate portion 28 between the ends.

One or more of the first and second end portions 24, 26 and theintermediate portion 28 of fluid reservoir 14 may have a radiallyasymmetric cross-section relative to axis 22. As shown in FIG. 1, thefirst and second end portions 24, 26 may include one or more bulges orlobes 38. Lobes 38 may be configured to provide enhanced fluid capacitywithin a given physical envelope, or lobes 38 may allow the center ofgravity of fluid reservoir 14 to be shifted, such as laterally away fromlongitudinal axis 22 of fluid reservoir 14.

The fluid reservoirs 14 may be configured into respective first andsecond fluid reservoirs 40, 42. In some embodiments, such as where thefluid reservoirs 14 include portions having a radially asymmetriccross-section relative to axis 22, the first and second fluid reservoirs40, 42 may be configured so as to be mirror images of each other, asshown in FIG. 1.

The intermediate portion 28 of fluid reservoir 14 may include agenerally uniform elongate portion extending between the first andsecond end portions 24, 26, as shown in FIG. 1. The intermediate portion28 may have a reduced cross-section relative to at least one of thefirst or second end portions 24, 26. The intermediate portions 28 may beconfigured to provide handles 44 adapted to be grasped by human hands.For example, the first and second fluid reservoirs 40, 42 may berespectively grasped by first hand 46 and second hand 48, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The nozzle 16 may include an orifice for discharging a fluid and may bedisposed on a nozzle housing 50 such that nozzle 16 may be at leastpartially integral with or carried by nozzle housing 50. The water gun12 may also include a body or center housing 56 having an opening 52 ina front surface 54. The nozzle housing 50 may extend through opening 52and may be supported by center housing 56, as shown in FIG. 1.

As may be observed by a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 or FIGS. 3 and 4,nozzle 16 may be configured to move relative to center housing 56, suchas along the median plane of center housing 56, which is indicated byaxis 58 in FIGS. 3 and 4. In particular, nozzle housing 50 may moverelative to center housing 56, such as between a retracted position 60,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and an extended position 62, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. In extended position 62, nozzle housing 50 may projectoutwardly from opening 52 such that at least a portion of nozzle housing50 is spaced away from center housing 56. In contrast, in the retractedposition 60, nozzle housing 50 may project outwardly from opening 52 toa lesser extent than when nozzle housing 50 is in extended position 62.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, nozzle housing 50 may move along arectilinear trajectory, represented by axis 58, as nozzle housing 50moves between the retracted and extended positions 60, 62, such as wherenozzle housing 50 slides in and out of opening 52 on the front surface54 of center housing 56. In some embodiments not shown, nozzle housing50 may be pivotingly attached to center housing 56 or other structuresuch that nozzle housing 50 may pivot between a retracted position andan extended position. The motion of nozzle housing 50 relative to centerhousing 56 may be a combination of rectilinear and rotational motion, orother suitable form of motion.

The nozzle 16 may be configured to selectably eject a fluid through atleast one orifice. In some embodiments, nozzle 16 may be adjustable suchas to provide one or more patterns of fluid ejection, such as arelatively concentrated stream, a relatively disperse spray, or apulsating stream.

Actuator 18 may be any suitable structure that produces movement ofnozzle housing 50 relative to center housing 56. Actuator 18 may includeone or more members such as arms in the form of first and secondhousings 64, 66, as shown in FIG. 1. Each of first and second housings64, 66 may be adapted to pivot relative to center housing 56, such asabout a pivot pin 68, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Any of these housingsmay include forward facing surfaces that shield or protect the water gunparts or the user. Otherwise, any of the housings may be any suitablesupport structure. Each of the respective first and second housings 64,66 may be configured to move a portion, such as an end distal of pivotpin 68, between a first position 70, where the distal ends of each ofthe respective first and second housings 64, 66 are spaced away from themedian plane, such as in opposite directions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,and a second position 72, where the distal ends of each of therespective first and second housings 64, 66 are closer to the medianplane than in first position 70, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The first and second housings 64, 66 may be mechanically coupled to thenozzle 16 and/or the nozzle housing 50. The mechanical coupling betweenthe first and second housings 64, 66 and the nozzle 16 and/or the nozzlehousing 50 may cause the nozzle 16 and/or the nozzle housing 50 totransition from retracted position 60 to extended position 62, assuggested by arrow 74 in FIG. 3, as the first and second housings 64, 66are brought toward each other and transitioned from first position 70towards second position 72, as suggested by arrows 76 in FIG. 3.Conversely, the mechanical coupling may cause the nozzle 16 and/or thenozzle housing 50 to transition from extended position 62 to retractedposition 60, as suggested by arrow 78 in FIG. 4, as the first and secondhousings 64, 66 are spread apart by transitioning from second position72 toward first position 70, as suggested by arrows 80 in FIG. 4.

As shown in the illustrative embodiment presented in FIGS. 3 and 4, eachof the first and second housings 64, 66 are mechanically coupled to thenozzle housing by a coupling mechanism, which may include an extensionarm 82, and a slot 84 in nozzle housing 50 engaged by extension arm 82.Each of the extension arms 82 may include one or more housing contactsurfaces 86, which may slide along the sidewalls of slot 84, which maydefine nozzle contact surfaces 88. In such an embodiment, when the firstand second housings 64, 66 are in the first or expanded position 70, thecorresponding extension arms 82 will be in a relatively rearwardposition as shown in FIG. 3, and when the first and second housings 64,66 are in the second or contracted position 72, the correspondingextension arms 82 will be in a relatively forward position as shown inFIG. 4. Thus, because the extension arms 82 are engaged with slot 84,the extension arms 82 move nozzle housing 50 towards the retractedposition 60 as the housing contact surfaces 86 slide along the nozzlecontact surfaces 88 when the first and second housings 64, 66 are movedtowards first position 70, as shown in FIG. 3. Conversely, the extensionarms 82 move nozzle housing 50 towards the extended position 62 as thehousing contact surfaces 86 slide along the nozzle contact surfaces 88when the first and second housings 64, 66 are moved towards secondposition 72, as shown in FIG. 4.

Pump 20 may be fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir 14 and thenozzle 16. The pump may be any suitable structure that causes a fluid tobe discharged from nozzle 16. The pump may be configured in the form ofa positive displacement pump, such as a piston pump, as shown in FIGS. 3and 4. Pump 20 may include an inlet 90, an outlet 92 (not visible inFIGS. 3 and 4), a pump body 94, and a piston 96. The pump may also beconfigured as a dynamic pump, such as a centrifugal pump.

As shown in the illustrative embodiment presented in FIGS. 3-5 and 7,inlet 90 may be disposed on pump body 94 proximate an end 97 of pumpbody 94. In some embodiments, outlet 92 may be disposed on pump body 94proximate inlet 90, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 5, pump inlet 90 may be fluidly coupled to at least oneof the fluid reservoirs 14 such as through fluid supply tubes 98, whichmay fluidly couple the outlets 32 of the first and second fluidreservoirs 40, 42 to a T-connector 100, and a pump inlet tube 102 whichmay be fluidly couple T-connector 100 to pump inlet 90. The pump outlet92 may be fluidly coupled to nozzle 16, such as through a pump outlettube 104.

As may be explained with reference to FIGS. 3-5, pump 20 may beconfigured to alternately draw a volume of fluid from at least one ofthe fluid reservoirs 14 and expel a volume of fluid through nozzle 16 inresponse to movement of actuator 18.

The piston 96 and pump body 94 may be pivotingly connected to the firstand second housings 64, 66, respectively, such as with pump pivot pins106, as shown in the illustrative embodiment presented in FIG. 5. Whenthe first and second housings 64, 66 are transitioned from secondposition 72 toward first position 70, piston 96 is withdrawn from pumpbody 94, as illustrated in FIG. 3, such that a volume of fluid may bedrawn from the first and second fluid reservoirs 40, 42 toward pumpinlet 90, as shown in FIG. 5. Conversely, when the first and secondhousings 64, 66 are transitioned from first position 70 toward secondposition 72, piston 96 is driven into the pump body 94, as shown in FIG.4, such that a volume of fluid may be delivered from pump outlet 92toward nozzle 16 and discharged or expelled from nozzle 16, as showngenerally at 108 in FIG. 5.

The alternate flow of fluid from fluid reservoir 14 toward pump inlet 90and from pump outlet 92 toward nozzle 16 may be enabled by a valveassembly 110 on pump body 94, as shown in FIG. 6. Valve assembly 110 mayinclude a pair of one-way valves, configured as respective inlet andoutlet valves 112, 114. The inlet and outlet valves 112, 114 may beball-valves, which each include a ball 116, a valve spring 118, and anannular valve seat 120.

At least one of the inlet and outlet valves 112, 114 may be proximatethe end 97 of pump body 94, as shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 7. In someembodiments, outlet valve 114 may be proximate inlet valve 112. As shownin the illustrative embodiment presented in FIGS. 3-7, inlet valve 112may be aligned relative to outlet valve 114, such as where inlet valve112 is generally parallel to outlet valve 114.

As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, fluid reservoir 14 maybe fabricated as a distinct or separate component which may bemechanically attached to the first and second housings 64, 66. In someexamples, a supply hose may be used to connect pump 20 to a fluid sourceprovided by a user. Fluid reservoir 14 may be clamped to the first orsecond housing 64, 66 using a pair of spaced apart mechanical supports,arms or clamps 122, which may be attached to the housing using amechanical fastener, such as a screw, or an adhesive. In the exampleshown, the clamps 122 are spaced apart, forming a gap across whichintermediate portion 28 of fluid reservoir 14 extends. When a mechanicalfastener is used, the reservoirs 14 may be detachable from the housing.In some embodiments, fluid reservoir 14 may be at least partiallyintegral to and form part of one or more of the first and secondhousings 64, 66.

In some embodiments, the pump pivot pins 106 may be configured toprovide a removable connection between piston 96 and/or pump body 94 andthe respective first and second housings 64, 66. As shown in FIG. 7, thepump pivot pins 106 may include a barbed end 124 to provide a removablesnap-in engagement between the pump pivot pins 106 and the first andsecond housings 64, 66 such that piston 96 and/or pump body 94 may bedisconnected from the respective first and second housings 64, 66.

In some embodiments, water gun 12 may include one or more shields 126,such as those illustrated in FIGS. 7-10. In some embodiments, at leastsome of the shields 126 may include a transparent region or window 128.The window 128 may include a crosshairs 130, as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the one or more shields 126 may include a singleshield 132, which may be attached to center housing 56, such as withshield hinge 134. Shield 132 may be configured to transition or movebetween a first or extended position and a second or retracted position.In the first or extended position a portion of the shield may be moreclosely perpendicular to the axis of nozzle 16, as generally indicatedat 136 in FIG. 1. In the second or retracted position at least a portionof the shield may be more closely parallel to the axis of nozzle 16, asgenerally indicated at 138 in FIG. 1.

The shield 126 may be configured to be placed into various positionsindependently of the position of first and second housings 64, 66. Theposition of shield 126 may be maintained by a locking mechanism, such asseries of mechanical detents or a friction stop, which may allow shield126 to be maintained in any desirable position, such as one intermediatethe first or extended position and the second or retracted position.

Another illustrative example of a water gun is shown at 140 in FIGS.8-10. Water gun 140 may include a first shield 142, a second shield 144,and a plurality of triangular lateral shields 146, as shown in FIGS.8-10.

The first and second shields 142, 144 may be hingedly attached to centerhousing 56, and the lateral shields 146 may be grouped in pairs whereeach of the lateral shields 146 may be hingedly attached to one of thefirst and second shields 142, 144 and one of the first and secondhousings 64, 66. In some embodiments not shown, lateral shields 146 maybe used with only a first shield 142 and no second shield 144.

The shields may be configured to at least partially automatically extendand/or retract in response to the transition of the respective first andsecond housings 64, 66 between the first and second positions 70, 72, asillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The shields may be configured totransition from a first or extended position 148, as shown in FIG. 8,toward a second or retracted position 150, as shown in FIG. 8, as thefirst and second housings 64, 66 transition from first position 70toward second position 72. The automatic transition of the shields fromthe first or extended position 148 toward the second or retractedposition 150 may be at least partially caused by geometric constraintsimposed by the triangular lateral shields 146.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multipledistinct inventions with independent utility. While each of theseinventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specificembodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to beconsidered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Thesubject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obviouscombinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features,functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where any claimrecites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claimshould be understood to include incorporation of one or more suchelements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certaincombinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of thedisclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodiedin other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions,elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of thepresent claims or presentation of new claims in this or a relatedapplication. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to adifferent invention or directed to the same invention, whetherdifferent, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims,are also regarded as included within the subject matter of theinventions of the present disclosure.

1. A water gun, comprising: a body having a front surface; a nozzlemounted on and extending from the body, and having at least a nozzleportion adapted to move between an extended position spaced away fromthe front surface and a retracted position closer to the front surfacethan the extended position; and an actuator adapted to be moved relativeto the body, and mechanically coupled to the nozzle for moving thenozzle between the retracted and extended positions when the actuator ismoved between first and second positions.
 2. The water gun of claim 1,comprising a pump having an outlet fluidly coupled to the nozzle and aninlet, and responsive to movement of the actuator the pump expels avolume of fluid through the nozzle when the pump inlet is connected to asource of fluid and the actuator is moved between the first and secondpositions.
 3. The water gun of claim 2, wherein the source of fluidcomprises at least one fluid reservoir fluidly connected to the inlet,and responsive to movement of the actuator the pump draws a volume offluid from the at least one fluid reservoir toward the inlet when theactuator is moved between the second and first positions.
 4. The watergun of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises: a first housing and asecond housing, the first and second housings being adapted to pivot inopposite directions relative to the body between a first position spacedaway from a median plane of the water gun and a second position closerto the median plane.
 5. The water gun of claim 4, wherein at least oneof the respective first and second housings includes a housing contactsurface; and the nozzle includes at least one nozzle contact surface,wherein motion of the housing contact surface along the at least onenozzle contact surface as the first and second housings move betweentheir respective first and second positions causes the nozzle to movebetween the retracted position and the extended position.
 6. The watergun of claim 1, wherein the nozzle moves relative to the body along asubstantially rectilinear trajectory.
 7. The water gun of claim 1,wherein the body comprises an opening, the nozzle extending through theopening.
 8. The water gun of claim 1, comprising at least onedumbbell-shaped fluid reservoir.
 9. The water gun of claim 8, whereinthe fluid reservoir is mounted on the actuator and a portion of thereservoir forms a handle adapted to be grasped by a human hand.
 10. Awater gun, comprising: at least one fluid reservoir comprising first andsecond end portions and a generally uniform elongate intermediateportion extending between the first and second end portions, the firstand second end portions having volumes that are larger than the volumeof the intermediate portion, a nozzle; and a pump fluidly coupled to theat least one reservoir and the nozzle, the pump being operable todischarge fluid received from the at least one reservoir through thenozzle.
 11. The water gun of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of atleast one of the respective first and second end portions has a radiallyasymmetric cross-section.
 12. The water gun of claim 10, wherein the endportions are larger than the intermediate portion in each radialdirection from a longitudinal axis of the intermediate portion.
 13. Thewater gun of claim 10, wherein the pump is configured to alternatelydraw a volume of fluid from the at least one fluid reservoir and expel avolume of fluid through the nozzle.
 14. The water gun of claim 13,comprising a first housing and a second housing, each of the respectivefirst and second housings adapted to pivot relative to the nozzlebetween a first position in which at least a portion of each of therespective first and second housings extends away from a median plane ofthe water gun and a second position in which the portion is closer tothe median plane.
 15. The water gun of claim 14, wherein there is atleast one of the at least one fluid reservoir disposed on each of thefirst and second housings.
 16. The water gun of claim 10, wherein thenozzle is adapted to move relative to a body between an extendedposition in which at least a portion of the nozzle extends away from afront surface of the body and a retracted position in which the portionof the nozzle is closer to the front surface.
 17. A water gun,comprising: a body having a front surface; a first housing having atleast a first portion configured to move relative to the body between afirst position in which the first portion of the first housing is spaceda first direction away from a median plane of the water gun and a secondposition closer to the median plane than the first position of the firsthousing; a second housing having at least a first portion configured tomove relative to the body between a first position in which the firstportion of the second housing is spaced a second direction opposite tothe first direction away from the median plane of the water gun and asecond position closer to the median plane than the first position ofthe second housing; at least one fluid reservoir supported on at leastone of the first and second housings; a nozzle supported on the body andhaving at least a nozzle portion adapted to move along the median planerelative to the body between an extended position in which the nozzleportion is spaced away from the front surface and a retracted positionin which the nozzle portion is closer to the front surface than theextended position; a pump fluidly coupling the reservoir and the nozzleand configured to discharge water from the nozzle when the nozzleportion moves between the retracted and extended positions; and at leastone of the first and second housings being mechanically coupled to thenozzle for moving the nozzle between the retracted and extendedpositions when the at least one of the first and second housings movesbetween the first and second positions.
 18. The water gun of claim 17,comprising a pump having an inlet fluidly connected to the at least onefluid reservoir and an outlet fluidly connected to the nozzle, whereinthe pump is configured to: draw fluid from the at least one fluidreservoir toward the inlet as the nozzle portion moves between theextended and retracted positions; and deliver fluid from the outlettoward the nozzle as the nozzle portion moves between the extended andretracted positions.
 19. The water gun of claim 17, wherein the nozzleportion moves relative to the body along a substantially rectilineartrajectory.
 20. The water gun of claim 17, wherein the at least onefluid reservoir comprises: an upper portion; a lower portion; and amiddle portion intermediate the respective upper and lower portions,wherein the middle portion has a reduced cross-section relative to atleast one of the respective upper and lower portions, the middle portionbeing adapted to be grasped by a human hand.
 21. A water gun,comprising: a nozzle; and a pump, comprising: a pump body having an end;an inlet fluidly coupled to a source of fluid, the inlet being disposedon the pump body proximate the end; and an outlet fluidly coupled to thenozzle, the outlet being disposed on the pump body proximate the inlet.22. The water gun of claim 21, wherein the source of fluid comprises atleast one fluid reservoir and the pump is adapted to alternately draw avolume of fluid from the at least one fluid reservoir and expel a volumeof fluid through the nozzle.
 23. The water gun of claim 21, comprising:a body, wherein the nozzle is disposed on the body; and an actuatoradapted to move relative to the body, wherein responsive to movement ofthe actuator the pump expels a volume of fluid through the nozzle whenthe actuator is moved between a first position and a second position.24. The water gun of claim 21, wherein the source of fluid comprises atleast one fluid reservoir comprising first and second end portions and agenerally uniform elongate intermediate portion extending between thefirst and second end portions, the first and second end portions havingvolumes that are larger than the volume of the intermediate portion.